Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Purpose & Values
The drive for innovation and continuous improvement is at the heart of our purpose
Business Strategy
Climate change is at the heart of our business strategy
Innovation
Finding better ways to do things is in our DNA
We supply the metals and minerals used to help the world grow and decarbonise
Iron Ore
The primary raw material used to make steel, which is strong, long-lasting and cost-efficient
Lithium
The lightest of all metals, it is a key element needed for low-carbon technologies
Copper
Tough but malleable, corrosion-resistant and recyclable, and an excellent conductor of heat and transmitter of electricity
Bringing to market materials critical to urbanisation and the transition to a low-carbon economy
Oyu Tolgoi
One of the most modern, safe and sustainable operations in the world
Rincon Project
A long-life, low-cost and low-carbon lithium source
Simandou Project
The world’s largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposit
Providing materials the world needs in a responsible way
Climate Change
We’re targeting net zero emissions by 2050
Tailings
Details of our tailings facilities can be found on our interactive tailings disclosure map
Communities
The strength of our relationships with the communities where we operate, and broader society, is fundamental to our business
We aim to deliver superior returns to our shareholders while safeguarding the environment and meeting our obligations to wider society
North America site visit, 24 September 2024
An investor site visit to our Aluminium operations in the Saguenay and our Iron & Titanium business in Sorel, Quebec, Canada
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The 'f' word of innovation
How unlocking innovation requires a change of mindset
Reducing titanium oxide's carbon footprint
Our BlueSmelting technology could drastically reduce carbon emissions during ore processing
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When metal has to perform in extremely cold environments, like outer space; in extremely hot ones, like an airplane engine; or extremely corrosive ones, like seawater, titanium is a strong choice – because of its high strength, light weight and resistance to corrosion. It’s now being used to make highly efficient solar panels, underwater heating pipes, and renewable energy infrastructure. And because it’s lightweight, it can also help reduce fuel consumption, letting planes and cars go farther with less impact on our environment.
In 1791, English chemist William Gregor first discovered titanium, which he called “Gregorite”, but German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth independently rediscovered it and named it titanium after the “Titans” of Greek mythology. Four years later he isolated the compound we know as titanium dioxide today.
Titanium dioxide is a very white, opaque compound that absorbs ultraviolet rays and reflects 96% of light, so it’s been a primary ingredient in products like sunscreen, toothpaste, paint and cosmetics for over a century. These same properties are lending it to new applications that reduce carbon emissions – like paint used on buildings to reflect heat and reduce air conditioning energy consumption, and battery and solar technology.
We are partnering with the Government of Canada to support technological innovations that could decarbonise our Canadian titanium oxide operations by up to 70%. This includes the BlueSmelting™ project, an ilmenite smelting technology that could generate 95% less greenhouse gas emissions than the current reduction process at RTIT Quebec Operations, enabling the production of high-grade titanium dioxide feedstock, steel and metal powders while reducing our carbon footprint. We’re constructing a demonstration plant that will have the capacity to process up to 40,000 tonnes of ilmenite ore per year.
At our operations in Canada, our main product is titanium dioxide concentrate or titaniferous slag, which we sell as a raw material to titanium dioxide pigment producers. We currently produce 3 registered trademark products:
SORELSLAG® has a titanium dioxide content of approximately 80%. It is sold primarily to pigment producers that use the sulphate process. SORELSLAG® provides these customers with an environmentally friendly way of minimising waste generation. We are the world's leading supplier of high-grade feedstock for titanium pigment producers that use the sulphate process.
UGS™ is an upgraded slag, with a titanium dioxide content of approximately 95%. It is sold primarily to titanium dioxide pigment producers that use the chloride process and to titanium metal producers.
RTCS™ has a titanium dioxide content of about 90% and is sold primarily to titanium dioxide pigment producers that use the chloride process.
At our operations in South Africa, we produce:
Rutile: used in welding rod fluxes, or processed into its titanium metal form. In this form it is used extensively in the aerospace and aviation industries because of its lightness, strength, corrosion and heat resistance. These properties also make it ideal for use in artificial hip joints and pacemakers.
Titania Slag: the titanium dioxide contained in titania slag is used to create a pure white, highly refractive, ultraviolet light-absorbing pigment. The pigment is used in products such as foodstuff, pharmaceuticals (including toothpaste) and cosmetics, as well as in paint, plastics, textiles and inks.
Zircon: used in the production of ceramic tiles and sanitary ware. Refined to zirconia, it is used in a wide range of advanced ceramics, refractories, jewellery, electronic applications and many other industrial and domestic products. Zircon sand is also used in the foundry industry.
Ilmenite: the primary mineral used to produce titanium.
Zirsill: used in the production of ceramic tiles and electronics.
Monazite: a rare earth mineral used in renewable energy technologies, such as high-power permanent magnets for wind turbines and electric vehicles.
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E: rtit.info@riotinto.com
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With the exception of the use of cookies (explained below), Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
Part 1 of this Privacy Policy contains the Rio Tinto Data Privacy Standard, which provides an overview of Rio Tinto’s approach to personal data processing. There is additional information in the appendices to the Data Privacy Standard, including information about disclosures, trans-border data transfers, the exercise of data subject rights and how to make complaints or obtain further information relating to Rio Tinto’s processing of your personal data.
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